Hills like White Elephants

Hills Like White Elephants, by Ernest Hemingway, is a short story written in 1927. This story is set at a train station’s bar in Barcelona, Spain. The main topic of this short story is abortion. At the beginning of the story we meet the two main characters: Jig and the American. Throughout the story Jig and the American are discussing back and forth about whether Jig should get an abortion. Taking note that the American character seems to be a hardcore partier that doesn’t take life seriously, you automatically comprehend that he is completely supports the idea of an abortion. Jig, who so far has also thus far lived a carefree life of partying, is now questioning what this baby might bring to their lives and trying to convince the American otherwise. Following these two characters discussion it becomes evident that with ones decisions come possible consequences along with having to take responsibility for them. No matter our choices, good or bad, there will always be some form of consequences tacked on with responsibilities. Though there might be ways to avoid these consequences, like Jig having an abortion, both characters are going to have to live with this one life changing choice.

Jig and the American’s preference of lifestyle are plain to see when the Earnest Hemingway makes his readers have a clear observation of their luggage. Hemingway states, “There were labels on them from all the hotels where they had spent the nights” (p 173). They travel around from hotel to hotel trying different drinks and living a carefree, responsibility free life, and as of right now, Jig and the American have had no one else to worry about or take care of other then themselves. Now with this pregnancy a new life is coming into play, it’s no longer just Jig and the American left to do whatever they want to do. From the beginning of the story, the American realizes that because of this baby he was going to have greater responsibilities, which in the